Towel holders

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a towel holder device for maintaining towels in place, keeping them from falling off of a rack or sink countertop. The device comprises an elongated strip of solid material with two ends. The strip is formed to create an enclosure space for holding a towel, with the towel in a desired shape. The two ends are spaced apart and face each other. The strip is formed of a material that has a flexing ability sufficient to enable the two ends to be separated enough to expand the enclosure space to enable the towel to fit into and out of the space without resistance from the strip. The flexing ability enables the strip to return to its original shape, holding the towel with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel. The strip is capable of providing any of a number of changeable decorative appearances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of towel holders, and inparticular a ring-type device that maintains the towel in place and iseasily removed and also easy to replace after the towel has been used.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Towels are very often not considered decorative, but merely functional.Very often towels are not returned to the towel rack, but left somewhereelse in the bathroom or kitchen. When returned to the rack the towelsoften wind up being thrown over the rack in some haphazard fashion.Towels haphazardly strewn about create a messy appearance and do nothelp the towels to dry after use.

Prior art patents describe several ring-type devices that are designedto hold drapery in place, some of which offer the ability to interchangedevices to suit decorative needs, but none are given for use inmaintaining a towel in place.

Towels for use in the bathroom, whether bath towels or hand towels, arecommonly manufactured in a large variety of colors to match the bathroomdecor or the personal taste of the homeowner. Additionally, the towelsmay be printed in a variety of patterns or designs. Also, especially onhigher quality towels, a decorative trim piece such as an elongated trimstrip may be added to one surface of the towel. This trim piece may beintegrally formed during weaving of the fabric, or may be a separatetrim piece that is sewn onto the end of the towel. Sewing of the trimpiece onto the towel permits a greater variety of decorative results,since the trim strip can be of a different color, a different materialand/or of a different construction. Thus, for example, a satin trimpiece can be sewn onto a cotton towel. As another example, a fringedtrim strip can be sewn onto the towel edge.

Despite the numerous decorative effects that can be achieved bycombining various available colors, designs and trims, there are stilldecorative effects that cannot be achieved by these techniques. Inaddition, many homeowners wish to frequently change the decor of theirbathrooms. Self-decorators have attempted for years to add decorativetributes to their towels, i.e. bows, flowers, lace, themes, schemes,etc. However, once the towel has been decorated it is often renderedunusable if it is to retain its decorative appearance. Often thedecoration is too cumbersome or difficult for a towel user to undo andthen redo after use.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,794, issued Aug. 28, 1934 to Panettiere,provides a fastening device that is adapted to support towels and thelike, and is designed to clampingly engage the towel in such a mannerthat the towel will be more firmly gripped as the pull on the towel isincreased. The towel is easily engaged and released, and when engagedwill be firmly gripped and held against removal.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,329,446, issued Sep. 14, 1943 to Whitehead,shows a festoon ring for supporting draperies and the like. The festoonring is designed to hingedly open for insertion of the drape.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,734, issued Nov. 20, 1973 to Kimel, claimsan openable curtain ring that has a body in the form of a loop carryingtwo jaws at the end of the loop. The jaws are adapted to clamp against apiping on the curtain. The curtain can be released by deforming the loopso that the jaws are moved apart. Releasable locking means are providedto maintain the jaws clamped against the piping. An embodiment isdisclosed in which a hook is added to the ring for supporting a secondcurtain that hangs alongside the first-mentioned curtain.

U.S. Pat No. D311,836, issued Nov. 6, 1990 to Dala, describes anornamental design for a clip designed to secure beach towels to chairsor the like.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D382,431, issued Aug. 19, 1997 to Parra,discloses the ornamental design for a flexible towel holder.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,695, issued Apr. 9, 2002 to Gabriele,indicates decorative trim pieces that are added to towels with areleasable attachment means so that the trim pieces can be replaced toeffect changes in decor. The ability to remove the trim piece prior tolaundering of the towel also permits the use of a greater variety ofmaterials, including materials that would be damaged by laundering.Preferably, the attachment means is a plurality of male fastenercomponents attached to a first flexible support that is secured to thetrim strip back, and a plurality of mating female fastener componentsattached to a second flexible support, that is secured a surface of thetowel.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,058, issued Aug. 4, 1979 to Barna, putsforth a decorative ring-like structure that includes a generallylongitudinally split cylindrical sleeve having a fabric tube snuglyreceived thereover. The fabric tube has a length substantially greaterthan the circumference of the sleeve to provide a decorative pleatedarrangement.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,927, issued Jun. 25, 2002 to Kananen,concerns drapery retainers that generally comprise of very large beads,each pierced by a cylindrical hole through which a curtain or drape isdrawn. The beads may be joined together to form multiple stacked beadsor the beads may be equipped with attachment devices to fasten the beadsto walls behind the drapes. The beads may be of any suitable basematerial such as wood, metal or plastic with the base materialdecoratively finished. Alternatively, the base material may be coveredwith decorative cloth or other wrap that can be replaced as desired.Also disclosed are devices for joining the beads together and forattaching cloth or wrap.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,401, issued Jul. 7, 1998 to Faurie,illustrates a curtain tie back arrangement that uses a plurality ofpivotal and variably spaced rings through which the drapery material isdecoratively laced.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,370, issued Feb. 27, 1990 to Erdmann, isfor a curtain or drapery holding device that has a removable magneticfront piece. The front piece is designed to take various decorativeforms.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,996, issued Jun. 28, 1994 to Rendall,provides a bracket for removably fastening a flexible web article to agenerally planar support surface. The bracket includes first and secondgenerally closed bands of approximate equivalent size adapted to gripthe flexible web article and fastening element adapted for engagementwith the support surface for affixing the closed bands thereto. Thefastening element includes a first side portion having a surface adaptedto attach to the support surface and an opposite second side portionwhich carries the closed bands in juxtaposition to each other. In oneembodiment, the closed bands, in the form of two planar rings, arecoupled to the second side portion in an abutted position to permitpivoting of each ring about the second side portion. In a secondembodiment, an attachment band is carried by the second side portion andloops through two planar rings to fasten them to the fastening element.In a third embodiment, an attachment band which loops through two planarrings is swivelably coupled to the second side portion.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,692, issued Aug. 16, 1983 to Macfie, showsa utility fastener device for securing sheet material to an associatedstructure. The device includes a ring closed by a snap closure in theform of a socket closure and plug closure between which the material isgripped. The socket closure includes an interior opening having agripping rim catching material pushed into the opening by the plug. Thesocket opening and plug have a smooth rounded configuration devoid ofsharp edges to hold the material without puncturing or tearing.

What is needed is a simple, flexible decorative towel holder that isinexpensive to manufacture and easy to apply, which would keep towels inplace and assist in encouraging people in a household to replace towelsproperly on the towel rack in an organized and attractive array. Adevice is needed that would assist in identifying personal towels andalso create a decorative effect to enhance the appearance of a towel andof a room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, flexibledecorative towel holder that holds the towels in place to keep them fromfalling off the rack or the sink countertop.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, flexibledecorative towel holder that helps to dry towels by keeping the towelshanging straight down.

An added object of the present invention is to provide a decorativetowel holder that is easy and simple to use due to its flexing ability,thereby encouraging usage of the device.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmaintaining an orderly environment by providing an incentive to put thetowels back in their proper place.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a means toidentify towels, such as one labeled for a guest, to avoid confusion andextra laundry.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means to teachchildren or developmentally disabled persons how to care for their owntowels by providing identifying characters.

A contributory object of the present invention is to provide a flexiblestrip capable of providing any of a number of changeable decorativeappearances.

In brief, a towel holder device is provided for maintaining towels inplace, keeping them from falling off of a rack or sink countertop. Thedevice comprises an elongated strip of solid material with two ends. Thestrip is formed to create an enclosure space for holding a towel, withthe towel in a desired shape. The two ends are spaced apart and faceeach other. The strip is formed of a material or materials that have aflexing ability sufficient to enable the two ends to be separated enoughto expand the enclosure space to enable the towel to fit into and out ofthe space without resistance from the strip. The flexing ability enablesthe strip to return to its original shape, holding the towel with afriction fit to prevent movement of the towel.

The strip of the towel holder is capable of providing any of a number ofchangeable decorative appearances. The strip can be formed to create anenclosure of any desired shape, such as a circle, an oval, a square, arectangle or any other desired shape capable of retaining a towel. Thestrip is capable of being covered with a covering material that has aquality to match the towel and an environment in which the towel isplaced. The covering material may be formed of a high friction materialcapable of assisting in maintaining the towel within the strip. Thecovering material can be fabricated of variously colored and imprintedcloth formed into a sleeve around the strip and is capable of receivinga visual image thereon. The visual image can be imprinted on thecovering material or can be an element attachable to the coveringmaterial. The strip may also be fabricated of a material that has adesired appearance to match the towel and an environment in which thetowel is placed. The strip is fabricated by molding a colored syntheticmaterial or fabricated by casting or bending a desired metal to form thestrip. The strip that is fabricated in this manner is capable ofreceiving a visual image thereon. The visual image may be an elementattachable to the strip, imprinted on the strip, or the strip may formedby a molding or casting process and the visual image is formed on thestrip in the molding or casting process.

An advantage of the present invention is that is holds towels in place.

Another advantage of the present invention is it provides an identifyingmeans for towels.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it is simple touse.

One more advantage of the present invention is in being inexpensive tomanufacture.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it helps towelsto dry.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provideschangeable decorative appearances.

A final advantage of the present invention is in keeping towels in asmooth, unwrinkled condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way ofillustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the tower holder of the presentinvention holding a front half of a towel hung over a towel rack, thetowel holder having an imprinted or mold-formed or casting-formed imageof a teddy bear thereon;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tower holder of FIG. 1 holdingboth the front and back halves of a towel hung over a towel rack;

FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view of a number of possibleconfigurations for the towel holder, a circle in 9A, an oval in 9B, asquare in 9C, a rectangle in 9D;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1 formed of amaterial to match a towel, preferably in color, or an environment inwhich a towel is placed, preferable in material or color;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1 having acovering material to match a towel, preferably in color, or anenvironment in which a towel is placed, preferable in material or color;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1 formed of amaterial to match a towel, preferably in color, or an environment inwhich a towel is placed, preferable in material or color and furtherhaving a visual image, a flower, on an element, which may be fabric orsynthetic material attachable to the towel holder or synthetic materialformed in the molding process for a synthetically molded towel holder ormetal formed in the casting process of a metal towel holder;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 5 having acovering material to match a towel, preferably in color, or anenvironment in which a towel is placed, preferable in material or colorand further having a visual image, a flower, on an element, which may befabric or synthetic material or metal attachable to the coveringmaterial;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view showing a series of possible imageswhich might be desirable to place on the towel holder for children, ahorse in 7A or a teddy bear in 7B, or special occasions, a heart forValentines Day or a romantic sentiment in 7C, or a wreath for Christmasin 7D;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a sink having a towel holder around twohalves of a towel folded over within the towel holder and placed on thesink counter, the towel holder formed of a material to match a towel,preferably in color, or an environment in which a towel is placed,preferable in material or color and further having a visual image, aword, imprinted or mold-formed or casting-formed thereon.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1-7 and 9, a towel holder device 20 and 20A-20D is provided formaintaining towels 30 in place in an orderly array. The device 20 and20A-20D comprises an elongated strip 22 of solid material that has twoends. The strip 22 is formed to create an enclosure space 21 formaintaining a towel 30 therein with the towel 30 in a desired shape. Thetwo ends are spaced apart and facing each other. The strip 22 is formedof a material that has a flexing ability sufficient to enable the twoends to be separated by a sufficient amount to expand the enclosurespace 21 to enable the towel 30 to fit into and out of the space 21without resistance from the strip 22. The flexing ability enables thestrip 22 to return to its original shape, while maintaining the towel 30therein with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel 30, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9.

The strip 22 is capable of providing any of a number of changeabledecorative appearances. The strip 22 can be formed to create anenclosure of any desired shape, such as a circle 22 in FIG. 3A, an oval22B in FIG. 3B, a square 22C in FIG. 3C, a rectangle 22D in FIG. 3D orany other desired shape capable of retaining a towel 30. The strip 22 iscapable of being covered with a covering material 23, as shown in FIG.5, which has a quality to match the towel 30 and an environment in whichthe towel 30 is placed. The covering material 23 may be formed of a highfriction material capable of assisting in maintaining the towel 30within the strip 22. The covering material 23 can be fabricated ofvariously colored and imprinted cloth formed into a sleeve around thestrip 22 and is capable of receiving a visual image 24A-24G thereon. Thevisual image can be imprinted on the covering material 23, not shown, orcan be an element 24A-24F attachable to the covering material 23, asshown in FIG. 7. The strip 22 may also be fabricated of a material thathas a desired appearance to match the towel 30 and an environment inwhich the towel 30 is placed, as shown in FIG. 4. The strip 22 may befabricated by molding a colored synthetic material or fabricated bycasting or bending a desired metal to form the strip 22. The strip 22that is fabricated in this manner is capable of receiving a visual image24A-24G thereon. The visual image may be an element 24A-24F attachableto the strip as shown in FIG. 6, imprinted or embossed or engraved 24Gon the strip as shown in FIG. 9, or the strip 22 may formed by a moldingor casting process and the visual image 24B is formed on the strip 22 inthe molding or casting process, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In practice, a user could place a towel 30 over a towel rack 40, flexthe towel holder 20 to create an opening 21, and encircle the front half30F of the towel 30, as shown in FIG. 1. The user would then release thestrip 22 to return to its original shape, while maintaining the towel 30therein with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel 30. A usercould alternatively encircle both the front 30F and back 30B halves of atowel 30 hung over a towel rack 40, as shown in FIG. 2. A further usecould be to place the towel holder 20 around two halves 30F and 30B of atowel 30 folded over within the towel holder 20 and placed on the sinkcounter, as shown in FIG. 9.

In practice, the towel holder 20 could be used to teach children ordevelopmentally disabled persons how to care for their own towels 30 bychoosing an image 24A-24F or character which might be desirable to thechild or developmentally disabled person, such as a horse 24A in FIG. 8Aor a teddy bear 24B, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8B.

In practice the towel holder 20 could be used to identify personaltowels 30 to avoid confusion and extra laundry, by labeling 24G thestrip 22 as shown in FIG. 9.

In practice the towel holder 20 could be used to provide any of a numberof changeable decorative appearances. The strip 22 can be formed tocreate an enclosure of any desired shape, such as a circle 22 in FIG.3A, an oval 22B in FIG. 3B, a square 22C in FIG. 3C, a rectangle 22D inFIG. 3D or any other desired shape capable of retaining a towel 30. Theuser could cover the strip 22 with a covering material 23 that has aquality to match the towel 30 and an environment in which the towel 30is placed, as shown in FIG. 5. The user could affix a visual image 24Fon to the covering material 23, as shown in FIG. 7, or the visual imagecan be imprinted on the covering material 23, not shown.

In practice, the user could choose a towel holder 20 that is fabricatedof a material that has a desired appearance to match the towel 30 and anenvironment in which the towel 30 is placed. The strip 22 may befabricated by molding a colored synthetic material or fabricated bycasting or bending a desired metal to form the strip 22. The strip 22that is fabricated in this manner is capable of receiving a visual image24A-24F thereon. The visual image 24G could be imprinted or molded onthe strip 22, as shown in FIG. 9, or the user could attach the visualimage (24E for example) to the strip 22, as shown in FIG. 6. The usercould change the visual image 24A-24F for special occasions, forexample, a heart 24C for Valentines Day or a romantic sentiment, shownin FIG. 8C, or a wreath 24D for Christmas, as in FIG. 8D.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by wayof illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

1. A towel holder device for maintaining towels in place in an orderlyarray, the device comprising: an elongated strip of solid materialhaving two ends, the strip formed into a desired peripheral shapeencircling an enclosure space with the two ends adjacent to each otherto form a towel holder for encircling and maintaining a towel thereinwithin the enclosure space with the towel in a desired shape formed bythe peripheral shape of the towel holder encircling at least one portionof the towel, the two ends spaced apart and facing each other, the stripformed of at least one flexible material so that the two ends areseparable by a sufficient amount to expand the enclosure space into afirst open position to receive at least one side of a folded towel tofit into and out of the enclosure space without resistance from thestrip and so that the two ends are releasable to allow the strip toreturn to its original shape maintaining the towel within the enclosurespace with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel with thetowel hanging over a towel rack or placed on a sink countertop, thetowel holder configured with an outer surface to match a decorative lookof the towel, the towel holder being replaceable by other towel holderswith different differently configured peripheral shapes and outersurfaces to provide any of a number of changeable decorativeappearances.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip is covered witha covering material having a quality to match the towel and anenvironment in which the towel is placed.
 3. The device of claim 2wherein the covering material is formed of a high friction materialcapable of assisting to assist in maintaining the towel within thestrip.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein the covering material isfabricated of variously colored and imprinted cloth formed into a sleevearound the strip.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the covering materialcapable of receiving has a visual image thereon.
 6. The device of claim5 wherein the visual image is imprinted on the covering material.
 7. Thedevice of claim 5 wherein the visual image is on an element attachableto the covering material.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip isfabricated of a material having a desired appearance to match the toweland an environment in which the towel is placed.
 9. The device of claim8 wherein the strip is fabricated by molding a colored syntheticmaterial.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein the strip is fabricated bycasting a desired metal to form the strip.
 11. The device of claim 8wherein the strip is fabricated by bending a desired metal to form thestrip.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip has a visual imagethereon.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the visual image isimprinted on the strip.
 14. The device of claim 12 wherein the strip isformed by a molding process and the visual image is formed on the stripin the molding process.
 15. The device of claim 12 wherein the strip isformed by a casting process and the visual image is formed on the stripin the casting process.
 16. The device of claim 12 wherein the visualimage is on an element attachable to the strip.
 17. The device of claim1 wherein the strip is formed to create an enclosure of any desiredshape.